Foe mail bags



(No Modell E. H. ORT. EASTBNING POR MAIL BAGS.

No. 580,888.l

Patented Apr. 20, 1897.

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-UNTTED STATES PATENT Ormcn.

EDlVARD Il. ORT, OF FROSTBURG, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DANIEL J. BETZ, OF SAME PLACE.

FASTENING FOR MAIL-BAGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,888, dated April 20, 1897. Application filed August 18, 1896. Serial No. 603,137. (No model.)

T0 @Zi whom t may concern: strip or bar being provided with a metal loop Be it known that I, EDWARD H. ORT, a citior staple or securing-eye 5, while the other zen of the United States, residing at Frost end is provided with an eye G, to which is pivburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of otally attached the securing hasp-bar 7 ofthe 55 5 Maryland, have invented a new and useful device. This hasp-bar is provided at its free Fastening for Mail-Bags, of which the followend with a slot 8, by which it is adapted to be ing is a specification. passed over the staple 5, so as to permit the This invention relates to fastening devices usual or any preferred padlock (indicated at for maihbags; and the object in view is to 9) t-o be applied to the projecting end of such 6o lo provide a fastening for the purpose stated staple.

which shall comprise a minimum number of Secured to the front of the bag l in the same parts, be simple and economical in construcplane with the bar 4 and Yhasp 7 is a plate tion, strong, durable, and reliable in use, and or strip 10, provided at each end with lon-g capable of being manipulated with the utstuds ll and at intermediate pointswith rela- 65 l 5 most celerity. tively short studs 12. To the free edge ofthe The device forms a practical continuous flap 2 of the bag` is permanently attached a lock extending entirely across the bag, and plate or strip 13, extending the entire width also serves as a support for the destinationof the flap and provided at intervals with slide and as a means of preventing the disopenings 14 for the reception of the studs 11 7o 2o placement of said slide when the bagislocked. and 12. This plate or strip 13 is secured to .The invention consists in a fastening dethe back or outer surface of the flap 2, and vice for mail-bags embodying certain novel when the flap is closed and the studs engaged features and details of construction and arwith the openings therein the edge of the flap rangement of parts, as hereinafter fully deis confined between said plate or strip 13 and 75 25 scribed, illustrated in the drawings, and inthe plate 10, carrying the studs. lVhile the corporated in the claims. v parts are in this position, the hasp-bar is ln the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a swung across the front of the bag, and this perspective View of a mail-bag having the imbar is provided with openings 15 for the reproved fastening device applied thereto and cept'ion of the longerstuds 11, above referred 8o 3o locked. Fig. 2 is a similar View showing the to, the short studs 12 being of just sufficient device unlocked and the iap of the bag length to project through, but not beyond, thrown partly open. Fig. 3 is a sectional their respective openings in the plate or View taken longitudinally through the fastenstrip 13. ing device. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view By making the end studs 11 longer than the 85 3 5 of the destination-slide. intermediate studs a certain amount of play Similar numerals of reference designate or looseness is allowed for in the parts of the corresponding parts in the several iigures of fastening device without liabilityY of the ap the drawings. becoming loose, so as to afford access to the Referring to the drawings, 1 designates an bag. 9o 4o ordinary mail bag or sack, the same being In order to facilitate the securement of the provided at its top Withasquare Iiap 2, adaptseveral plates or strips 4, 10, and 13 to the ed to be folded over upon the body ofthe sack bag, which is generally of leather or some for closing the mouth thereof, analogous material, thinner metal strips (i11- 3 designates loops or grip-handles by which dicated at 16) are located upon the inner sur- 95 45 the bag may be carried. face of the bag just opposite said strips, thus For the purpose of carrying out the presadapting rivets to be passed through both ent invention a stout metal strip or bar 4 of plates or strips of each pair and to be headed somewhat greater length than the width of against the same in a manner that will be the bag is secured to the back of said bag, the readily understood. Besides this the strip or loo 5o same projecting at its opposite ends beyond plate 16 on the inside of the edge of the flap the side edges of the bag, and one end of said is of material assistance in threading the flap over the studs on the plate 10 and prevents the fraying and Wearing out of the edge of the ap. Reinforced eyelets or holes 17 are provided at suitable points in the front and back of the bag for suspending the same in assorting the mail, and, if desired, suspendingrings 18 may be secured to the plate or bar 4 at the rear of the bag for taking the strain from the bag itself Whenever found necessary.

To the front side of the hasp-bar 7 is secured a holder 19, adapted .to receive the usual destination-slide 20. This holder is arranged just at one side of one of the openings 15, so that when the slide 2O is inserted in the holder and the hasp-bar closed one of the studs 11 will project through the said opening 15 just behind the heel end of the destination-slide, thus preventing the accidental backing or slipping of said slide from its holder. At or near its advance end the slide 2O is punched from the inside to form one or more outwardlyprojecting barbs 21, the same being adapted to engage and embed themselves in the tag 22, which bears the address or destinat-ion of the mail-bag. By means of this construction, when the destination-slide is inserted in its holder, the tag is prevented from being caught in the holder and held back as the slide is advanced. The rear or heel end of the slide 2O is rolled or deilected, as shown at 23, to form a nail or finger hold, by Which the slide may be more easily manipulated. Thus the locking of the bag by means of the padlock also effects a locking of the destination-slide.

The fastening device above described is extremely simple in construction, is not liable to get out of order, may be manufactured at minimum cost, and Will be found expeditious and reliable in use.

It will be understood that the device is susceptible of changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, which may accordingly be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

I-Iaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isvided with an opening at its free end to engage With an eye or staple projecting from said rear bar, the said hasp-bar having openings for receiving studs on thestud-plate, substantially asdescribed.

2. A fastening device for mail-bags, comprising a back plate or bar secured to 011e side of the bag to maintain a xed position relative thereto and projecting beyond the side edges thereof and also provided at its ends with suitable eyes, a stud-plate secured to the opposite side of the bag, a strip or plate secured to the free edge of the iiap and having openings to engage the stud-plate, a haspbar pivoted at one end to one of said eyes and having an opening at its opposite end to engage the other eye and also having openings for engaging the stud-plate, and means for locking said hasp-bar, substantially as described. n Y

3. A fastening device for mail-bags, coinprisinga back plate or bar secured to the bag and projecting at its ends beyond the side edges of said bag, a stud-plate secured to the oppositeA side of the bag and having studs of dilferent lengths adapted to engage openings in the flap edge, and a hasp-bar pivoted to one end of said back bar and provided at its free end with an opening for engaging an eye or staple on said back bar, said hasp-bar also having one or more openings for receiving the longer studs on the stud-plate, substantially as described.

4f. In a fastening device for a mail-bag having a llap provided With openings, the combination With a stud-plate secured to the bag and having studs of different lengths, the shorter of Which studs are adapted to engage the openings in the flap, of a hasp-bar pivotally connected to the bag and adapted to lie against the flap, said bar having openings for the passage of the longer studs only, a slideholder secured to the hasp-bar adjacent to one of its openings, and a destination-slide adapted to be fitted into said holder, the construction being such that when the hasp-bar is locked in position, one of the longer studs will project through the hasp-bar in the rear of said slide and prevent its escape from the slide-holder, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto aixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

EDVARD I-I. ORT.

Witnessesz J. H. SIeGnRs, HAROLD H. SIMMs.

ICO

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